Kukla's Korner Hockey

Despite an exciting Stanley Cup Game 7, NBC could do little to challenge CBS' Monday night dominance. The Tiffany Network crushed the competition overall, though FOX was able to eke out a slim demographic win.
For the night, CBS averaged a 5.8 rating/10 share, far ahead of the 3.9/7 for FOX. ABC was right behind in third with a 3.6/6, nipping the 3.5/6 for NBC (though NBC averaged more viewers). The WB and UPN continued to play out the string with matching totals of 1.3/2 on the night.

Last night’s Game Seven averaged a 2.3 adults 18-49 overnight rating from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., according to Nielsen fast nationals. Those numbers measure only timeslot data, not program data, so the final number may jump when the bit airing after 11 p.m. is factored in to final ratings.
Regardless, this will be the highest-rated game of the series by far. It was up 92 percent over the 1.2 final average earned by Saturday’s Game Six. It also bettered Game Five’s 1.6 average and Game Four’s 1.3 average while becoming NBC’s first game to break 4 million total viewers.
In fact, it broke that barrier by a great deal, averaging 5.45 million total viewers.

Game 7 of The Stanley Cup Finals on NBC (Edmonton vs. Carolina) concluded with a typically lackluster 4.0/ 7 in the overnights from 8-11:15 p.m., with an approximate 5.45 million viewers and a 2.3/ 7 among adults 18-49 in primetime. Comparably, the 2004 metered market average for The Stanley Cup Finals was a more potent 5.4/ 9.

The Carolina Hurricanes’ win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals had a 3.3 rating and 6 share on NBC on Monday night, down 21 percent from Game 7 in 2004 — the last season before the lockout.
In 2004, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Game 7 victory over the Calgary Flames had a 4.2 rating and a 7 share on ABC.
“The ratings are in line with our projections,” Brian Walker, director of communications for NBC Sports, said Tuesday.